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UFC 197: Jon Jones dissatisfied with performance in win over Ovince St. Preux

Demetrious Johnson declares himself the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter

Light Heavyweight Jon Jones Wins

L.E. Baskow

Light Heavyweight Ovince St. Preux collapses over from another kick by Jon Jones during their UFC 197 match at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Updated Saturday, April 23, 2016 | 10:24 p.m.

UFC 197: Fight Night at MGM Grand

Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson celebrates his knockout of Henry Cejudo during their UFC 197 match at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, April 23, 2016. Launch slideshow »

Note: Full results from the preliminary card are available at the bottom of the page.

The interim light heavyweight championship belt slung over Jon Jones’ shoulder meant nothing to him.

Jones handed the belt off to a coach immediately upon receiving it following a unanimous-decision victory (50-45, 50-45, 50-44) over Ovince St. Preux in the main event of UFC 197 Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“I don’t think I want that belt,” Jones said. “It’s not the real belt. I want my real belt back.”

He’ll have his chance to get it. Jones ensured UFC 197’s original headliner, his rematch against Daniel Cormier, would be rebooked, potentially for the milestone UFC 200 on July 9 at T-Mobile Arena.

It was an odd week for Jones, who saw a dispute between the UFC and Conor McGregor overshadow his return to the octagon, and it ended just as oddly. Jones expressed disappointment about how he performed against St. Preux in a fight that had fans booing for the lack of action for the majority of its 25 minutes.

“I was watching, anticipating, imagining techniques landing but just not going for it,” Jones said. “I was watching tonight, and not reacting.”

UFC 197 had many ratcheting up the talk that Jones had been surpassed as the best pound-for-pound fighter after a 15-month layoff initiated by a suspension for a felony hit-and-run. The fighter they said was ahead of Jones gave them a strong argument in the co-main event.

Flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson blew out previously undefeated Henry Cejudo with a TKO at 2:49 of the first round. Johnson rocked Cejudo with knees in the clinch, and noticed the damage he had done when they separated.

Johnson rushed toward Cejudo and finished him with more knees.

“Once I got him off-balance, I threw the left knee to the liver and I knew it was over,” Johnson said.

“I am the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and I’ll continue to show it.”

One fighter who’s certainly fallen out of the conversation took another hit before Jones and Johnson won. Former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis suffered a third straight upset defeat, this time succumbing to the heavy striking of Edson Barboza via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

The Knockout of the Night went to featherweight Yair Rodriguez, who landed a flying switch kick on Andre Fili in the pay-per-view opener to win at 2:15 of the first round.

The next fight was another one heavy on action, as Robert Whittaker won a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) over Rafael “Sapo” Natal. Jones’ victory was the only fight on the main card that didn’t live up to expectations.

Jones was hard on himself about it, but he tried to shake out of the malaise before leaving the arena.

“I’m going to do a lot better,” Jones said. “I just really needed that fight first.”

Come back to lasvegassun.com later for full coverage and go to the bottom of the page for full results from the preliminary card.

Conor McGregor has captivated the fighting world over the last week with his refusal to fulfill promotional obligations and the way the UFC has responded.

Tonight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the actual fights take over in entertaining — and they should do plenty of it. UFC 197 is loaded with potentially explosive bouts, even beyond the headlining affairs that have received the little attention directed away from McGregor.

Right before former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns for the first time in more than a year and flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson tries to build on his win streak, another former champion enters the octagon. Lightweight Anthony Pettis might have the most exciting style of any fighter in the UFC, and he’s facing an opponent who would seemingly oblige to challenging it in Edson Barboza.

The two kickboxers come in as the favorites to win Fight of the Night honors, which should get the crowd enthused before the two fights on the poster.

Flyweight top contender Henry Cejudo is unbeaten, and has stayed there with his Olympic-caliber wrestling and rhythmic counter-punching. Those are the exact areas where Johnson has looked vulnerable in the past, though less so during a 9-0-1 run in the last four years since the UFC added his 125-pound weight class.

Jones has an even better résumé than that at 205 pounds, where he’ll meet Ovince St. Preux for the interim title with Daniel Cormier pulling out of their rematch two weeks ago with an injury. Jones is considered the best fighter in the world, but it’s always an inexact science to figure out how any athlete will come back from extended time away.

Jones promises he’s sharper than ever, having grown both mentally and physically since having his title stripped and being handed an indefinite suspension after a felony hit and run conviction last year. St. Preux feels underestimated, and wants to dole out his own lessons.

Opening the main card is a straight pick’em at featherweight between Yair Rodriguez and Andre Fili. Both are younger prospects still on their way up, much like middleweight Robert Whittaker in the next fight.

Whittaker seeks a fifth straight win when he takes on veteran Rafael “Sapo” Natal, who’s won four in a row on his own.

Follow along with the Sun’s live round-by-round blog of the entire pay-per-view card, and find full results from the preliminaries below.

Sergio Pettis defeated Chris Kelades by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in a flyweight bout. Pettis never came close to stopping Kelades, but built edges in both wrestling and striking.

In an extremely close, grinding-style welterweight fight, Danny Roberts edged Dominique Steele by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). The crowd booed the decision, and the Sun's scorecard also had Steele with the narrow 29-28 advantage.

Former women's strawweight champion Carla Esparza fought for the first time in more than a year, and put on her typical performance. Despite taking some damage in the form of a bloody nose, Esparza neutralized Juliana Lima to win a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Striking beat out wrestling in the lightweight bout that opened the Fox Sports 1 preliminaries. James Vick won a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) over Glaico Franca by winning the exchanges on the feet.

Walt Harris and Cody East partook in the type of fight that makes people love to watch heavyweights, as they stood toe to toe and threw everything they had at each other. Harris was the last one standing, winning via TKO at 4:18 of the first round.

Marcos Rogerio de Lima came over to Clint Hester’s corner pre-fight and stared him down. De Lima backed up his taunts once the fight started, submitting Hester via arm triangle at 4:35 of the first round in a light heavyweight bout.

Kevin Lee defeated Efrain Escudero by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a lightweight bout. Lee relied on his wrestling to rally and win the final two rounds.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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